Let’s be honest—most of us don’t think twice about our dishwashers unless they stop working or start smelling like something crawled in and died. But then, you see those bottles of dishwasher cleaner at the store, claiming to keep your machine fresh, sparkling, and running like new. Do you really need it, though? Or is it just another marketing gimmick designed to drain your wallet?
Well, let’s break it down.
Shouldn’t My Dishwasher Clean Itself?
You’d think so, right? After all, it’s literally a machine designed to clean things. But here’s the catch—your dishwasher spends all day blasting off grease, food bits, and soap residue, and some of that gunk doesn’t just disappear. Instead, it builds up in the filter, spray arms, and hidden corners, leading to:
🔹 Funky smells
🔹 Cloudy glasses and dishes that don’t come out quite clean
🔹 Slower performance and potential breakdowns
So yes, your dishwasher does get dirty. But does that mean you need a special cleaner to fix it? That’s where things get interesting.
How Do Dishwasher Cleaners Work?
If you read the label on a bottle of dishwasher cleaner (not that anyone actually does), you’ll see claims like:
✅ Removes grease and grime
✅ Dissolves limescale and mineral buildup
✅ Eliminates odors
✅ Improves dishwasher performance
Sounds pretty convincing, right? But let’s break it down.
Most commercial dishwasher cleaners rely on three key ingredients:
🔹 Citric Acid – Helps dissolve hard water stains, limescale, and soap scum.
🔹 Surfactants – Fancy word for soap, which breaks down grease and leftover food residue.
🔹 Bleach or Antibacterial Agents – Targets mold, mildew, and bacteria buildup inside the machine.
The idea is that by running a cycle with one of these cleaners, all the hidden gunk gets dissolved and washed away, leaving your dishwasher fresh and clean.
But here’s the million-dollar question: Do you actually need a store-bought cleaner to do this?
Can You Clean Your Dishwasher Without a Store-Bought Cleaner?
Short answer? Yes. And for way cheaper, too.
Here are some simple, budget-friendly alternatives that work just as well:
🔹 White Vinegar: Place a cup of vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack and run a hot cycle. It breaks down grease, dissolves mineral buildup, and neutralizes odors.
🔹 Baking Soda: Sprinkle some on the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short hot cycle. It deodorizes and scrubs away grime.
🔹 Lemon Juice: Natural citric acid! Run a cycle with a cup of lemon juice to remove limescale and freshen things up.
🔹 Manual Cleaning: Yep, sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves. Cleaning the filter and scrubbing the spray arms once a month prevents most buildup.
So, unless you really love the convenience of a pre-packaged cleaner, these DIY methods can do the same job for pennies.
Final Verdict: Necessary or Just an Expensive Shortcut?
Let’s call it like it is—dishwasher cleaners do work. They dissolve grease, break down mineral buildup, and help keep your machine running smoothly. But are they necessary? Not really.
If you’re the kind of person who loves a quick, no-effort solution, a store-bought dishwasher cleaner might be worth it for the convenience. Just toss it in once a month, hit start, and you’re done.
But if you don’t mind taking the DIY route, simple household staples like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice do the same job for a fraction of the cost. Plus, giving your filter a quick scrub every so often can prevent most of the problems these cleaners claim to fix.
So, What Should You Do?
Here’s the game plan:
✔ If your dishwasher smells funky or isn’t cleaning well, try a vinegar rinse first.
✔ If you have hard water buildup, add some lemon juice or citric acid.
✔ If things still seem off, check and clean the filter before reaching for a commercial cleaner.
✔ If you just want a hassle-free solution, a store-bought cleaner can help, but it’s not a must-have.
Bottom Line:
Dishwasher cleaner isn’t a scam, but it’s also not essential. It’s just one of those things that’s nice to have but totally skippable if you’re willing to put in a tiny bit of effort.
So, next time you see one of those shiny bottles at the store, ask yourself—is it really worth it, or is your pantry full of better (and cheaper) options?